The VISES of Garage Journal

[KMScott]

Might try cutting one round out of a spring with the correct inside diameter and girth you desire and then put it in a vise and pull one end over till both ends match.---Voila, spring-steel retaining ring.

Good idea VA, that is what I will do next time.

Love that little Sweetheart, KMS.---That's a little gem.

I should do a couple more, that one came out pretty nice. How about the #4 Athol I did.

I believe Small Parts was purchased by Amazon 5-6 years ago, at least that is what I seem to remember.

Ragged, you are correct, just looked on Amazon. to bad Amazon cut back on the small parts they used to sell. Back when I was building assembly fixtures Small Parts had the hard to find springs and odd ball tiny parts that I could design around.

 

[va.grouseman]

Another beauty.---Yea KMS, you may as well stick with the small ones, they're bringing as much as the big ones do these days.

 

[KMScott]

Reed Handle Ball ends.

I remember a while back when we was discussing how vise makers add the ball ends. I am making a new handle for my 106 and the 1-1/2 diameter balls were loose so I cut one in half to see how they did their knobs. Still a little mystery, the balls are steel like the handle. They have a two flat's machined in the handle 180 degrees apart and the balls were formed to the flats. Did they have a punch press that formed the ball around the handle. Any way here are a few pic's of this Reed knob for the record.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Any trick to getting the patented spring clip off? I have a nice collection of Knipex spring clip pliers but this clip doesn't have any lugs to grip on to! Tried prising it off with a pair of screwdrivers but I don't want to bu**er it up......

Try using two small screwdrivers, get one end up an work your way around . It is not that bad unless it is rusted on ?

 

[kwoswalt99]

Re: Reed Handle Ball ends.

I remember a while back when we was discussing how vise makers add the ball ends. I am making a new handle for my 106 and the 1-1/2 diameter balls were loose so I cut one in half to see how they did their knobs. Still a little mystery, the balls are steel like the handle. They have a two flat's machined in the handle 180 degrees apart and the balls were formed to the flats. Did they have a punch press that formed the ball around the handle. Any way here are a few pic's of this Reed knob for the record.

Yeah, the reed way sucked they get loose eventually, seen it many times.

 

[rusty65]

Re: Reed Handle Ball ends.

Yeah, the reed way sucked they get loose eventually, seen it many times.

The balls ends on early reeds were cast in place on the handles. I could be mistaken but that’s what I believe I have found from some prior research.


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[AngryBeaver]

we are in rain season here. 3 weeks of non stop rain. can't get the truck in the back yard to get firewood so, took a 450 mile road trip yesterday. Old gal still gets 20.6mpg with 250K on her. Hope I'm just as energetic when I'm half wore out.

2 Columbian 206 M2's. first M2's I've seen with the newer script on an M2...
a Reed 224 1/2 dated 11/54. notice how much larger it is than the Yost...
An Older Meadville PA made Yost 503 pattern makers.
A Pat Pen wilton 4"
a Minty fresh Columbian 604 M3.

 

[Shiftless]

Nice haul A.B.

 

[va.grouseman]

Angry, you've got it bad, but you're doing real good.---Excellent haul.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Congratulations AB on finding your own 224 1/2R. Such a cool looking vise. Yours was made 2 months before mine.

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[RBarnes]

I just picked up the Chas Parker 436A with pipe jaws. It does not have the wrench on the swivel base, but the nut looks like it might have had one of these wrenches on it originally. Now this gives me something else to look for

Do the Parker wrenches, for the large 436As - have certain embossing on them?

 

[chrisnazzy]

I just picked up the Chas Parker 436A with pipe jaws. It does not have the wrench on the swivel base, but the nut looks like it might have had one of these wrenches on it originally. Now this gives me something else to look for

Do the Parker wrenches, for the large 436As - have certain embossing on them?

Can we see a couple more pics of your 436A? I have a 433 1/2A. It has the later style square jaws and I'm pretty sure the swivel lockdown bolt is original and it doesn't have a wrench. Seems like i've seen several of the later Parker's with the lower profile hex head lockdown and no wrench.

Something else to cross reference, in what way is your swivel base attached to the main body of the vise? Shoulder bolt or cast in peg with washer and c-clip?

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[Sidestep]

My lovely wife just scrounged this for me.
An 'infact' vise, 5".. have never heard of them before.
Is that a maple leaf on the side? Made in Canada?

 

[gman007]

I just picked up the Chas Parker 436A with pipe jaws. It does not have the wrench on the swivel base, but the nut looks like it might have had one of these wrenches on it originally. Now this gives me something else to look for

Do the Parker wrenches, for the large 436As - have certain embossing on them?

Can we see a couple more pics of your 436A? I have a 433 1/2A. It has the later style square jaws and I'm pretty sure the swivel lockdown bolt is original and it doesn't have a wrench. Seems like i've seen several of the later Parker's with the lower profile hex head lockdown and no wrench. Something else to cross reference, in what way is your swivel base attached to the main body of the vise? Shoulder bolt or cast in peg with washer and c-clip?

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Gents
These photos might help. The Older 436 seems to have had the wrench but the newer 436A might just have had a swivel arm (assuming the 436A in the photo was not monkeyed around with)

PS
Chris Your 433 1/2A looks great! As per usual you have done a a bang up restoration job . I really like the stand too!

 

[RBarnes]

Can we see a couple more pics of your 436A? I have a 433 1/2A. It has the later style square jaws and I'm pretty sure the swivel lockdown bolt is original and it doesn't have a wrench. Seems like i've seen several of the later Parker's with the lower profile hex head lockdown and no wrench.

Something else to cross reference, in what way is your swivel base attached to the main body of the vise? Shoulder bolt or cast in peg with washer and c-clip?

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I will try to get some more photos at some point. Right in the middle of another project and want to get it cleaned up and mounted before photos.

 

[kenc184]

After the Parker swivel jaw I picked up, I landed this Morgan 138 sheet metal vise. It has both rods missing from the base adjusters, and needs a good going over, but it's pretty good. I have wanted one of these for a while.

Damn, now with the hollands, the parker and the morgan (and my old crappy Columbian) I need more bench frontage!

 

[trijeff]

A Morgan coachmaker, you don't see those eveeyday. Nice pickup

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[kenc184]

A Morgan coachmaker, you don't see those eveeyday. Nice pickup

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Thanks!
I've stripped it and there were no unpleasant surprises. The handle was bent, but 5 minutes on my shop press had that sorted out. Need to knock up a pair of swivel lock bars and then a repaint.

The ugly black is blown over some fairly bright blue. Is that blue likely the original Morgan blue? TBH it's about the same color as the metallic blue I bought to spray my 57 Chevy - "harbor blue". I might have to resort to a base coat/clear coat harbor blue on this one if that blue really is original!

 

[FMC1959]

I just got this from my neighbor (WWII vet who passed away recently)

It says made in USA, but I can't find any other markings other than the size.

It looks like a Sears vise....not Craftsman, but from the line actually labelled as Sears. But yours has no name, and as Sears and Craftsman outsourced most of their tools, the question would be who made this for Sears. My guess.....Columbian?....only because they made many vises for Sears. Also, other OEM's for Sears (& Craftsman) being Reed and Rock Island; I don't recall anything either had that resembles your vise.

 

[va.grouseman]

My lovely wife just scrounged this for me.
An 'infact' vise, 5".. have never heard of them before.
Is that a maple leaf on the side? Made in Canada?

Sidestep, never seen one of those before.---Odd is good where vises are concerned.

 

[lis2323]

After the Parker swivel jaw I picked up, I landed this Morgan 138 sheet metal vise. It has both rods missing from the base adjusters, and needs a good going over, but it's pretty good. I have wanted one of these for a while.



Damn, now with the hollands, the parker and the morgan (and my old crappy Columbian) I need more bench frontage!

Ooh. I like that. [emoji481]


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[Outlawmws]

Actually Sears outsourced EVERYTHING. they sold branded merchandiser and Craftsman was one of many, many "brands" they had (Dunlap, Companion 2X, challenger, Commander, Driver, Kenmore, the list is almost endless

 

[tool_scrounge]

Thanks!
I've stripped it and there were no unpleasant surprises. The handle was bent, but 5 minutes on my shop press had that sorted out. Need to knock up a pair of swivel lock bars and then a repaint.

The ugly black is blown over some fairly bright blue. Is that blue likely the original Morgan blue? TBH it's about the same color as the metallic blue I bought to spray my 57 Chevy - "harbor blue". I might have to resort to a base coat/clear coat harbor blue on this one if that blue really is original!

I have a model Morgan 38 and the factory color is a fairly bright blue. I believe the 38 is the predecessor to the 138, but they look identical to me. I really like it is a 4.5" vise with 10" clamping capacity. Let me know if you need a measurement of the swivel lock bar lengths.

 

[kenc184]

Mine says 38A on the movable jaw, I wonder if the 38 becomes the 138 with the addition of the swivel base?

Yes, a measurement of the rods would be appreciated! Guess I'm going to peen over some drill rod.

 

[MissileBear]

The mother in law sent me a pic of a Charles Parker she dug out of some straw in one of their barns - looks pretty rusty and I can't tell if the static jaw is broken/welded or if it is just a clump of cow manure <

Anyone have any idea what it might be? Looks like a 3-4 incher...not sure what series had the lettering in an arc. I won't be able to grab it for a few more months.

 

[mgmlvks]

. . . I can't tell if the static jaw is broken/welded or if it is just a clump of cow manure <

Not looking good!

 

[kwoswalt99]

The mother in law sent me a pic of a Charles Parker she dug out of some straw in one of their barns - looks pretty rusty and I can't tell if the static jaw is broken/welded or if it is just a clump of cow manure <

Anyone have any idea what it might be? Looks like a 3-4 incher...not sure what series had the lettering in an arc. I won't be able to grab it for a few more months.

Looks like probably 4.5 or 5 inch.

 

[gman007]

The mother in law sent me a pic of a Charles Parker she dug out of some straw in one of their barns - looks pretty rusty and I can't tell if the static jaw is broken/welded or if it is just a clump of cow manure <

Anyone have any idea what it might be? Looks like a 3-4 incher...not sure what series had the lettering in an arc. I won't be able to grab it for a few more months.

MB
It appears to be one of the older Parkers and the general shape and curved lettering and support shelf reminds me of Parker 59.

 

[MissileBear]

MB
It appears to be one of the older Parkers and the general shape and curved lettering and support shelf reminds me of Parker 59.

Is that one of yours gman? If that stack jaw is in fact busticated, I might have an un-cracked dynamic jaw for ya-

 

[kwoswalt99]

Is that one of yours gman? If that stack jaw is in fact busticated, I might have an un-cracked dynamic jaw for ya-

Looks like they just welded the jaws on.

 

[gman007]

Is that one of yours gman? If that stack jaw is in fact busticated, I might have an un-cracked dynamic jaw for ya-

MB
I agree with you that the static jaw on your MIL's Parker seems to have been busted and repaired. As for the vise in the photo, it in fact belongs to a good friend. I will ask my friend if he is interested.

 

[MissileBear]

MB
I agree with you that the static jaw on your MIL's Parker seems to have been busted and repaired. As for the vise in the photo, it in fact belongs to a good friend. I will ask my friend if he is interested.

I don't want to get anyones hopes up yet....the slide on that vise might also be busted or it might not even be the same vise. I'll have to let you know next time I'm downstate and I retrieve it.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Mine says 38A on the movable jaw, I wonder if the 38 becomes the 138 with the addition of the swivel base?

Yes, a measurement of the rods would be appreciated! Guess I'm going to peen over some drill rod.

Rods measure 5" end to end. Mine says 38a on the movable jaw and 38 on the main casting. It has a swivel base, but maybe it was added later? Don't know.

 

[Fierljeppen]

Mine says 38A on the movable jaw, I wonder if the 38 becomes the 138 with the addition of the swivel base?

I believe you are absolutely correct! I dropped you some old catalog scans and some other member photos of their Morgan 138 vises with different castings. The 1963 scan is the first listing of the no-38 stationary model, everything before was only offered as a no-138 swivel model.

Very nice vise and probably getting added to my bucket list.

 

[dungeoncrawler]

Bought today a Columbian 144M - ok deal for $25, looks like a nice heavy-duty mechanics/machinist vise, I was looking for one for a while. Always wanted one with a really big handle - you know what they say about big handles



Spent some time cleaning, and found something worrisome - a pertty big crack on the dynamic jaw under the jaw face.



I was thinking that I can probably grind and weld it, but then it occurred to me that it might be the kind of iron that doesn't take to welding well. Can anyone give me some info? Is this vise borked and is now light-duty only until it breaks, or can it be fixed? Am I possibly making a mountain out of a molehill?

 

[va.grouseman]

How about this little unit.---Doing very well.---I've only seen a couple of these over the years.---I have a Massey Harris horse drawn mowing machine.---I should pull the trigger, but I won't.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-an...bench-vice-Vise-blacksmith-tools/372482829682

 

[454ragtop]

How about this little unit.---Doing very well.---I've only seen a couple of these over the years.---I have a Massey Harris horse drawn mowing machine.---I should pull the trigger, but I won't.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-an...bench-vice-Vise-blacksmith-tools/372482829682

Wow, VA, and welded no less! If I saw that at a sale I'd probably skip right by once I saw the weld, not anymore obviously...…...

 

[mgmlvks]

How about this little unit.---Doing very well.---I've only seen a couple of these over the years.---I have a Massey Harris horse drawn mowing machine.---I should pull the trigger, but I won't.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-an...bench-vice-Vise-blacksmith-tools/372482829682

One the pics from EeekPay shown below. What are the marks below "M-H", looks like N KC M? If so would that be North Kansas City Missouri?

 

[Fierljeppen]

What are the marks below "M-H", looks like N KC M? If so would that be North Kansas City Missouri?

This Massey Harris vise is from Toronto, Canada. The original Massey Harris vise had a patent date of 1880 from England, but this model has a patent date of 1936, from Toronto, Canada.

There are some serious Massey Harris collectors out there and I've never seen one do poorly in an auction.

Most of the Massey Harris vises in North America seem to come from Canada.

 

[MayerMR]

One the pics from EeekPay shown below. What are the marks below "M-H", looks like N KC M? If so would that be North Kansas City Missouri?

Looks like "NIKON" to me...?